Best Stainless Steel Cookware

We have a winner!

We found what we think is the best stainless steel cookware set on the market

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Best Non-Stick Cookware Set

For Lovers of non-stick cookware

This non-stick cookware set is excellent value for money and we rate it highly

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Best Dutch Oven Overall For Quality and Color

This will be no surprise

There is no doubt about it, we had to rate the as our number 1 choice for Dutch Ovens.

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Archive for December, 2009

Review: Sango Ice Cream Bowls Are Just the Right Size for Ice Cream

Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 12:10 pm  
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Sango ice cream bowlsIce cream is the perfect treat on a sweltering July day.

It’s tempting to grab the biggest bowl in the cabinet and load up. A good way to combat that urge is to use a smaller bowl. Cereal and soup bowls are too big for ice cream.

So why not consider purchasing a set of ice cream bowls. A set of ice cream bowls is just the thing as you can use the smaller bowl for portion control.

Sango offers a  line of attractive ice cream bowls at a great price.

Sango ice cream bowls come in sets of 4 with a variety of finishes. I am particularly fond of the earthenware finish. They hold 12 ounces so they’re a perfect size to use as a snack bowl when guests are over.  You can fill them up with chips and use as individual serving bowls or fill one of them up with your favorite dip and serve a variety of vegetables in the other three.

The earthenware design works great in a southwest themed kitchen. They accent the entire motif and draw together the complete room décor. Sango also works well with country designs. They compliment the look of a country home. When you set out the Sango  ice cream bowls they blend and match the table theme perfectly.  

Sango Nova Brown ice cream bowls

Sango Nova Brown

Things We Like:

  • The Sango ice cream bowls are safe for use in the microwave and dishwasher. You don’t have to worry about them melting into a pile of goop when exposed to the high heat of a dishwasher or microwave.
  • The Sango Nova Brown ice cream bowls integrate well with the Sango Splash line. They will match perfectly with other Sango Splash dinnerware.
  • The best thing we like about the Sango ice cream bowls is their low cost. This is a quality made set of bowls at an unbelievable price.

CLICK HERE to buy a set of 4 Sango ice cream bowls  also available in shades of  Eggplant (blue) and Avocado (green) . 

Review: BonJour Chef’s Torch with Fuel Gauge

Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 12:34 am  
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Bonjour Chefs Torch with Fuel Gauge

Paula is a fan of creme brulee, I think it may just be her favorite dessert, she especially loves the caramelized sugar topping.

Getting that same finish at home can be a bit of a challenge and that’s where the BonJour Chefs Torch comes to the party.

So here is a torch that is a great addition to the kitchen. With it you can easily and simply caramelize sugar to make that tasty crème brulee topping and you can do other things such as brown meringues.

The beauty of  the BonJour Chef’s Torch with Fuel Gauge, is that it is compact and  it has a fuel gauge so you can see just how much gas is left and you won’t run out at a crucial moment.

So now that you have an accessory to  help you need to take the guesswork out of torching stuff, you’re ready to cook up a tasty dessert or even melt some Swiss cheese for a soup .

It’s  one of those tools that once you discover it, makes you ask, “wow, why hasn’t anyone thought of that before?” What a simple concept just put a gas gauge on the torch so that you know if you’ll have enough fuel to finish off your dish or if you need to pop in a refill cartridge. 

The construction of this torch is top notch. It’s made out of sturdy aluminum so you don’t have to worry if you drop it if your fingers are greasy.  The handle is molded to fit your grip as well making it an easy to control torch. 

What We Like: 

  • Obviously the top selling feature of this torch is the fuel gauge. It’s an added bonus without an extra cost. Anything that takes the guesswork out of cooking is a huge plus in our book. 
  • We like how long a charge of fuel lasts in the unit. It’s sealed well so you don’t have to worry about pulling it out of a kitchen drawer and finding that it’s empty. 
  • We loved the sturdy construction and ergonomic grip. It feels natural in the hand allowing you plenty of control over what you are doing.

The BonJour Chef’s Torch with Fuel Gauge in Brushed Aluminum has received a majority of 5 stars from those who have purchased it. In fact the only 4 star ratings were from someone who felt it ran out quickly but it wasn’t a big issue because it is so quick and easy to refill, and the other person needed to experiment to get the result they wanted. Both still love the performance of this great kitchen torch.

Stirr Causes A Stir – Battery Powered Sauce Stirrer

Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 11:36 pm  
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stirr-lI have just come across a kitchen appliance that is going to blow you away.

If your forte is making beautiful tasty sauces then you know that they require the utmost attention to ensure that they turn out smooth, and the slightest bit of inattention equals disaster.

You know how it is, you are in the middle of whipping up a roux sauce and you get interrupted, by the kids, the dog or the next door neighbour, it may be just a few seconds of inattention, but when you turn back to the stove – lumpy sauce.

Its so frustrating and nothing you do can redeem the situation.

Well, this handy little battery operated tool means that  no longer do you have to worry about those minor interruptions because while your attention is elsewhere, Stirr keeps on stirring so your sauce remains nicely smooth and lump free and you will never have lumpy cheese sauce or gravy again.

So what is Stirr?

It is an automatic hands-free sauce stirrer, but you aren’t restricted to using it only on sauces or gravy, you can also stirr custards, soups, baked beans with simply a push of the button.

This is also a practical kitchen gadget for anybody who finds stirring tiresome or difficult, so its ideal for anyone with arthritis or wrist problems.

This really nifty battery powered kitchen accessory is the latest invention from  üutensil’s designer Gavin Reay.  The Stirr simply  glides around the pan base stopping the food from sticking or burning.

stirr-2

It is safe to use in your brand new non-stick saucepan and the legs can be removed and popped into the dishwasher for easy clean up.

So often we come across gadgets full of promise that turn out to be less than effective but this is one kitchen accessory you are going to love.

No more lumpy gravy, through inattention, no more sore joints for arthritis sufferers, Stirr just keeps on stirring, ensuring even heat distribution through the sauce or gravy.

And where can you buy  Stirr!!

It is available from uütensil.com for  around  £14.99 plus p+p.


stirr-3




Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Fortieth – 40th – Anniversary Edition) (Hardcover)

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm  
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Mastering the Art of French CookingOne name comes to mind when American’s think about French cooking, Julia Child. So it’s nice to see a reissue of her masterpiece, Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One . For many cooks this was the jump off volume for planning a meal. 

Mastering The Art of French Cooking is a full-blown cookbook with everything from appetizers to desserts in it. It’s divided up into segments based on meat type as well. It has a great index so you can find exactly the recipe you’re looking for or even the ingredients.

 This isn’t a pretentious cookbook; sure French cooking sounds hard but this book gives you really detailed instructions complete with illustrations. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some pretty complex recipes in it though, only now you’ll have all the knowledge you need to whip up that complex dish  with confidence.

 What We Like: 

The attention to detail in this book is amazing. Not only do you get to see what Julia is saying through the illustrations, she goes so far as to tell you the quantities you’ll need to swap between, frozen, canned and fresh ingredients. Not too many other cookbooks have that nice additional touch. 

We love that this isn’t just a theme cookbook throwing out the same “gourmet” recipes. This is real French food. Sure you can find the fancy recipes but there’s great provincial farm food in it as well. It’s about cooking French dishes from all regions and social strata. This isn’t just about cream sauces and crepes. 

The size of Mastering The Art of French Cooking is impressive. This is a huge cookbook, over 750 pages long. When you consider how many recipes you get the price is down right cheap. We’ve seen plenty of smaller cookbooks that sell for the same price.

And why not treat yourself to a copy of the movie about Julia Childs, staring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

Julie & Julia on Blu Ray

ManPans Holiday Cookware Set – Eco Green Cookware

Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 2:26 am  
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ManPans holiday_set_2The environmentally conscious cook should take a look at the ManPan. This is a company that manufactures their cookware right here in the US and they pride themselves on the fact that their manufacturing methods reduce their carbon footprint.

You can read about their carbon reducing manufacturing methods here.

But not only is this company doing something about carbon emissions their cookware is pretty damn good.  The company sent us a ManPan Stir Fry Wok and you can read our full review here.

Well here it is, the holiday season is upon us and  ManPans have put together a collection of their favourite ManPans for you in one practical package.  The Holiday Cookware Set includes all those practical pieces of cookware that make cooking a pleasure.

Just look at the great range of cookware you are going to get in the box:

  •  4 Quart Sauce Pan - just the right size  for cooking up your favorite pasta dishes, one pot dishes and sauces. This pan also has included a glass lid that has a steam vent.
  • Steamer Insert - fits the 4 qt pan.  ManPan recently steamed Bratwurst with beer, onions and spices in the pan. Now doesn’t that sound delicious!
  •  2 Quart Sauce Pan -  just the right size for cooking up smaller quantities and this pan also comes with an 8″ glass lid complete with steam vent. Its ideal for letting you see into the pan while  your food is cooking. And you don’t lose that precious heat and steam because you don’t have to lift the lid unneccesarily.
  • 10″ Fry Pan - every home needs this sized fry pan. It is just the right size for cooking anything from omelets to onions to burgers.
  • 12″ Saute Pan - just what you need for anything from searing steaks to braising chicken or  finishing off a complex dish.  Ideal for when you are cooking for a crowd and this pan also has the glass lid with steam vent which allows you to watch how things are progressing.

And this whole set of excellent performing, eco green cookware is available for a low $299.00. That’s a lot of cookware for a great price. So all in all, this is a pretty good deal wouldn’t you say. 

Why not put the Holiday Cookware Set on your list for Santa.

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